Page 9 of The Mercenary

I am no nun.

No four words had ever jolted him as those had, the effects of which he still carried with him. Bloody hell, the lady had blackmailed him, yet all he could think of was tearing off that headpiece to see more than just her face.

A noise from within demanded his attention. When a stable boy walked past a moment later, Guy stepped deeper into the shadows. It had gone against his instincts to leave Sabine alone with information that could destroy his mission. But her obvious desperation to leave the abbey had inspired him to do something quite unusual.

He trusted her. If only to gather her belongings to meet him here.

After speaking to the bishop again, explaining that he would be leaving sooner than anticipated, Guy had decided against seeking out the Reverend Mother. She would know in the morn he was responsible for Lady Sabine’s hasty departure. A pretty farewell, under the circumstances, seemed ill-advised.

He’d come for Bishop Salerno’s support and received it. Nothing else mattered. Except keeping his companion quiet long enough to ensure she did not jeopardize his mission.

“Are you there?” she called out, barely attempting to whisper.

She would get them both killed.

Guy grabbed her arm before she even saw him.

“Shhh.”

He nodded toward Arion, his jet-black destrier hidden in the shadows behind the stables. Understanding, she allowed him to lift her into the saddle. He nearly groaned as he did so, his suspicions confirmed.

The long black frock attempted to hide a small waist and curves that begged to be explored. And it mostly succeeded. But he knew better now. And damned if the biggest threat to the order’s rebellion wasn’t this slip of a woman with dangerous knowledge and an even more dangerous body.

Guy didn’t waste time dwelling on thoughts of her waist, or any other part of the non-nun’s body. Being caught absconding with a lord’s daughter, one the Reverend Mother had paid to acquire, was not part of his plan this eve.

Tying off her bag, Guy mounted in front of Lady Sabine, letting Arion’s movement dictate Lady Sabine’s actions. When she did indeed wrap her arms around his waist, Guy smiled into the night. He had no use for a wife. But if this woman willingly gave herself to him, Guy would accept the distraction.

One day, your hasty actions will turn on you with a vengeance.

He’d not yet fathered a bastard babe, to his knowledge. And Guy had no intention of doing so with his soon-to-be discarded wife. Thankfully, there were ways around such an affliction.

“I am surprised you took my offer.”

He didn’t turn in his saddle or acknowledge her words except to nod toward the abbey’s lights, which they passed as they rode forward. Silence was their ally, and she seemed to understand his meaning. But as the torches dimmed, Guy’s grip on the reins relaxed. The gates of St. Andrew Holybourne Abbey were neither closed nor guarded. As they slowly passed through marshland in the darkness, quiet pervaded all around them.

“Your offer was quite compelling,” he said at last.

“Not to share your treasonous plan?” She said the word with less vehemence than he’d expected.

“Nay.”

Guy let her think on that answer as he smoothed his mount’s mane. Arion did well at night, his steps sure. But a bit of encouragement never hurt matters.

He could tell the moment she understood. Her arms stiffened against him, and Lady Sabine shifted in the saddle. Cursing under his breath, Guy concentrated on the black fabric of her skirts, which hung across his leg.

Think of her as you first saw her. As a nun.

It didn’t work.

So instead, as they rode farther away from the abbey, he did something even more unusual than agreeing to take a bride.

Guy talked to her.

Not that he didn’t enjoy talking to women. Before they fell into his bed.

“So why do you believe this Lord Burge will attempt to reclaim you? Surely if we make our way to Noreham Castle, he will not follow.” Noreham was where he’d find Bande de Valeur—the next part of his mission.

If the lady had overheard his entire conversation with the bishop, she already knew their destination. There was no reason to disguise it.